10 Tips for Travelling with Cash

Most of the time it makes sense to carry a variety of money when travelling, including cash, credit cards, debit and sometimes even traveller’s cheques. However, when you’re heading to countries in the developing world or countries facing a debt crisis, your most reliable form of payment will be cash. But it can seem daunting to carry enough cash at one time to sustain an entire trip. Check out our tips on how to rest easy when carrying a large amount of cash overseas.

1. Have a money belt, but don’t treat it like a purse

Most people have figured out by now the importance of carrying a money bag (though people may disagree about what type of money bag is best). Cross-body bags are advisable as it’s harder to tear them from your body, or money belts can be quite effective as long as you don’t treat them like a purse. Never access your money belt/bag while you’re in public as that is an immediate signal to potential thieves. Keep a small amount on your person or in your handbag, and if you need to access more from your stash, head into a washroom or somewhere private to dig out more cash.

2. Split up your money

This is a pretty obvious suggestion but important to iterate—never carry all your cash in one place. Keep a set amount accessible in your bag, a backup daily stash in your money belt, some in your hotel safe (if you have one) and some in various other bags (try a Ziploc bag in the lining of your suitcase, for instance). You never want to lose more than you can afford when one of the above hiding spots get compromised.

3. Sew pockets into your clothes

If you want to have a set amount of money accessible at all times but don’t want to carry a purse, search for travel clothes that have a lot of pockets that are easy for you to access but hard for thieves (never carry your money in your back pocket). Canadian outfitters like Tilly have a good selection of travel clothes, or you can make your own pockets if you’re handy with a needle and thread.

4. Keep a decoy wallet

Try keeping a decoy wallet with a couple of small bills and fake cards stowed in your purse, in a more accessible and obvious location than your real wallet. This will act as a distraction to pickpockets or something you can offer up if you’re ever involved in a mugging.

5. Trim your wallet before you leave

Before you leave, rid your wallet of any unnecessary cards (library cards, points cards, etc.) so that if something happens to your wallet you can minimize the damage in whatever way possible.

6. Break up your money into manageable amounts

Try divvying up your money into set amounts ($100, $200) and separate using paper clips. This way you can know exactly how much money you are bringing with you when you set out for the day. This is also a great way to stay on budget if you outline beforehand how much you expect to spend each day.

7. Have a variety of denominations on hand

Make sure to keep a variety of small and large bills in case there isn’t change available where you’re spending your money (attractions, souvenir stalls, etc.). Using smaller denominations smartly will also cut down on the number of coins that remain at the end of the trip that may not be eligible for conversion.

8. Have someone on hand to wire you money

Just in case, make sure someone at home whom you trust is advised of your travel plans and is able to provide financial assistance. It may be a good idea to outfit them with some emergency funds before you leave (in addition to a photo of your passport, credit card, banking information, etc.).

9. Still have a credit card accessible

Even if you’re relying on cash for the majority of your trip, still bring at least one credit card and use it when you can. Make sure to call your bank ahead of time so they know you’ll be out of the country, and if possible, have an RFID protector to keep your cards safe.

10. Know the rules about carrying money over borders

If you’ve ever filled out a customs form, you know that everything changes when you’re carrying in excess of 10,000USD. In most cases you can carry under that amount in cash into the country you are visiting, but check with the embassy or consulate just in case if you’re at all concerned about the amount you plan on bringing.

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